MALAYSIA NEEDS 560 CARDIOLOGISTS, SAYS HEALTH MINISTER

KUALA LUMPUR, April 10 (Bernama) -- Malaysia needs 560 cardiologists, up
from the current total of 180, based on the high morbidity and mortality from
heart disease in Malaysia, Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai said Friday.

He said that at the norm of one cardiologist for every 50,000 population in
the country, the total was still very low, and added that only 26 of the 180
cardiologists were working with the ministry.

"This means that less than 15 per cent of the cardiologists in the country,
employed by the ministry, are handling about 60 per cent of the coronary heart
disease cases nationwide," he told reporters after officiating at the 14th
Annual Scientific Meeting of the National Heart Association of Malaysia, here.

Heart disease and diseases of the pulmonary circulation are the top killers
in hospitals, accounting for 16.54 per cent of all deaths recorded in
government hospitals.

At present, 21 physicians were undergoing training in cardiology and there
was a fellowship for a three-year training programme. The yearly intake of
trainees now was five to six people, he said.

"In the effort to deliver good health service to the people, the
ministry
has developed a fairly comprehensive cardiac programme which is not only readily
accessible but also affordable. The ministry will continue to strengthen the
programme under the 10th Malaysia Plan," he said.

He also said that the ministry planned to establish cardiology units at the
Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital in Ipoh and the Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital in
Kuala Terengganu under the 10th plan.

The ministry would also further develop the cardiology services at the
Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital in Kuantan and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kota
Kinabalu, while the services at the Sultanah Aminah Hospital in Johor Baharu
were being upgraded, he added.

When asked about the relationship and cooperation between the National Heart
Institute (IJN) and the ministry, he said IJN worked closely with the ministry.

"When we do referral cases from other hospitals, we can also refer to IJN
and the same goes for IJN patients, who can be referred to government
hospitals," he said.

Liow explained that IJN was under the ministry in terms of patients and
services while in terms of finance it reported to the Finance Ministry.

The minister also said that Malaysia did not face the second wave of
Influenza H1N1 and that the ministry monitored the situation constantly.

Based on the ministry's records, only 1.14 per cent of patients suffered
from Influenza-like Illness (ILI), he said, adding that 560 ILI patients were in
government hospitals nationwide, with six in intensive care.

-- BERNAMA